Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-12-09
HUNTING FOR RIVER THIEVES.
Creeping in a Boat Along the Wharve
and piers of New York City

Creeping I'm a Boat Along the Wharves
and Piers of New York City.
1t was poor night for river thieves to be
abroad. They generally come out when fog
and rain and mist are thickest. Jose and
Cregan bent to their oars with a short arm
and shoulder stroke, the kind that would
drive Bob Cook wild, but is the best in the
world for this kind of work Past the silent
colony of canal boats off Jeanette park the
boat shot along awhile, then halted
Slowly and silently the men padded close
to the outer edge of the fleet. On one of the
furthest boats could be seen man handling
a long hawser. They watched him, satisfied
themselves that he was all right, then rowed
away. They crept closely to the edges of the
wharves and piers, hiding in the friendly
shadows SO as to spring out Unexpectedly on
any crooked work that might be going on.
They rowed among the fishing smacks at
Fulton Market basin. Baskets, coils of rope
and hawsers lay around in the bright moon
light. Not soul was on guard. 1t seemed
strange that none of the gangs came around
to steal until you remembered the constant
fear they are in of the harbor police. The
river was as quiet as country graveyard on
a stormy winter day. A Catherine ferry
boat stole with noiseless wheel out of her
slip. Not even the warning whistle was
sounded as she silently started out
Into the basin between the twin "Dover
docks" crept the police boat. Giant floats
laden with freight cars rose and fell slowly
with the tide, like sea monsters asleep. A
shanty on a small float was visited There
wasn't sign of life about it. "Old Nc
Donald isn't doing any work tonight" said
one. "He's a SPECTATOR and sometimes
people come here to sell him things between
midnight and daylight" McDonald's dumpy
looking rowboats were moored close by.
They bobbed up and down and made queer
noises when the little waves broke on their
sides, as if they were guying the officers for
not finding any one to arrest.
Foul, pungent and mysterious low tide
odors suggestive of old, dank tombs, fioated
out from under the pier. Slowly the men
rowed their boat up between the Shiny, gray
, timbers Jose flashed the light through the
dim recesses and scanned every Granny with
care Sometimes they hide boat or two
in there with nice little jag of sugar." he
said, land snake it out lively when they
think we're not looking" There was nothing
to be seen this time, though. Up past the
bridge the boat SKINNED, each man keeping
his weather eye lifting" for amphibious
crooks. The vast roadway in the air hung far
aloft, like some fairy creation Of silver Its
stout cables and heavy guy ropes looked like
unsubstantial cobwebs from the river
Through and under all the open piers the
police boat threaded its way. Ships and
banks and brigs lay at their moorings on
every hand with not man on guard on
their decks. And why? Because ship cap
tains in this port know that river piracy is
thing of the past. The harbor police and
Recorder Smythe have made this charming
style of crime so costly that the tough gen
tlemen who were addicted to it have sworn off.
In the past three years the remainder of the
once active gangs that infested this city have
been sentenced to some 100 years imprison-
ment in Sing Sing The Border Gang" or
''Hook Gang" used to operate from under the
long wharf at Corlear's Hook. They are all
gone now.-New York World.